Imamah (Shia doctrine)
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- This article is about the Shi'a concept, for the more general Islamic term, see Imam.
Imamah (Arabic:إمام) is the Shi'a Islamic doctrine of political and spiritual leadership of a Caliphate headed by one of the infallible Imams from the blood line of Ali.
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[edit] Introduction
Islamic belief holds that Muhammad was the last Prophet. The Sunnis, the vast majority of Muslims, maintain that Muhammad intentionally did not appoint a Caliph (successor to his leadership) to lead the Caliphate and guide the Muslim community after his death. Thus, in the Sunni understanding, only the Qur'an and the Sunnah (example of Muhammad) would remain the sole authority in matters of faith (deen), while a Caliph should be elected by consensus (ijma) from amongst the community, whose authority would be temporal, not spiritual.
Shias, on the other hand, believe that at any given time, humanity is in need of spiritual guidance, which is given by the Imam of the Time, who is the Guardian and leader of all Muslims politically and spiritually. They hold that Muhammad had explicitly designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali and his direct descendents, as his Khalif (Successor), and thereby as the Imam (leader) of the Muslim community. Thus, while the cycle of Nubuwwah (Prophethood) ended with Muhammad, the cycle of Imamah began with Ali, and would continue from amongst his direct descendants. An Imam is then, for Shi'a Muslims, a Leader, whose guidance is not limited to temporal matters, but also extends to spiritual matters, and whose prerogative it is to give the right interpretation of the Qur'an and gradually reveal its esoteric meaning. Shias believe only these Imams had the right to be Caliphs, and all other caliphs, elected by majority consensus Ijma, or not, were usurpers of the Caliphate.
[edit] Sects
Within Shi'ism, there are various sects that differ over the number of Imams, and the path of their succession; the majority sect among these are the Twelvers, then the Zaidis, and then the smallest Ismaili sect. There are major doctrinal differences between the Twelvers, and the Ismailis. Sunnis accept that Twelver & Zaidi Shia are fellow Muslims, albeit considered misguided, but reject the doctrine of Ismailis. After the claimed occultation of the twelth Imam, for the twelvers there was a long period of waiting for new authority until the Mahdi arrives, and in his absence was left a vacuum of leadership, dealt with by traditional twelvers with Quietism. However an alternative theory developed to fill the need, called Wilayat al-Faqih or the absolute guardianship of the jurists, popularised by Ayatollah Khomeini. According to it, those most knowledgeable about Islamic law (Shari'ah) should assume a political role in society, governing the Wilayah in which Shias live. This led to the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
[edit] Imams
[edit] Twelver view
According to the majority of Shī'a, namely the Twelvers (Ithnā'ashariyya), the following is a listing of the rightful successors to Muhammad. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam except for Hussayn ibn 'Alī, who was the brother of Hassan ibn 'Alī.The belief in this succession to prophet stems from various Quranic ayaths which include: 75:36, 13:7, 35:24, 2:30, 2:124, 36:26, 7:142, 42:23. They support their discussion by putting facts from Genesis verse 17,19–20 and sunni hadeeth:Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 4478, English translation by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui.
| Number | Name | Kunya (title) | Nasab (patrynomic) | Laqab (nickname/epithet) | Known by Twelvers for | Lifespan, in CE |
| 1 | Imam Ālī (علي) |
Abū al-Hassan (أبو الحسن) |
Ibn Abī Tālib (إبن أبي طالب) |
Amīr al-Mu'minīn (أمیر المؤمنین) - Commander of the Faithful |
The first Imam and the greatest human being to live after Muhammad | 600–661 |
| 2 | Imam Hassan (ألحسن) |
Abū Muhammad (أبو محمد) |
Ibn Alī ibn Abī Tālib (إبن علي إبن أبي طالب) |
Al-Mujtabā (ألمجتبی)- Leader of Wisdom |
Along with his brother, one of the Lords of the Youth of Paradise; famous for his gentleness and calm demeanor | 625–669 |
| 3 | Imam Hussein (ألحسین) |
Abū Abdillāh (أبو عبداللھ) |
Ibn Alī ibn Abī Tālib (إبن علي إبن أبي طالب) |
Sayyid ash-Shuhadā' (سید الشھداء) - Lord of the Martyrs, and along with his brother, one of the Lords of the Youth of Paradise |
Sacrificing himself and his family at the Battle of Karbala for the sake of saving Islam | 626–680 |
| 4 | Imam Ali ibn Husayn (علي) |
Abū Muhammad (أبو محمد) |
Ibn al-Hussein (إبن الحسین) |
Zayn al-Ābidīn (زین العابدین) - Jewel of the Worshippers, Imam Sajjad - The Prostrating Imam |
Preaching and propagating Islam through his prayers and supplications | 658–713 |
| 5 | Imam Muhammad (محمد) |
Abū Jacfar (أبو جعفر) |
Ibn cAlī (إبن علي) |
Al-Bāqir (ألباقر) |
Laid the foundations for the Shia seminary system | 676–743 |
| 6 | Imam Jafar (جعفر) |
Abū cAbdillāh (أبو عبداللھ) |
Ibn Muhammad (إبن محمد) |
Al-Sādiq (ألصادق) |
Known as a great teacher who continued his father's practice of codifying Shia theology, law, and jurisprudence; among his many students were Abu Hanifa, Malik ibn Ans, and Jabir ibn Hayyan | 703–765 |
| 7 | Imam Mūsā (موسی) |
Abū Ibrāhīm (أبو إبراھیم) |
Ibn Jacfar (إبن جعفر) |
Al-Kāzim (ألکاظم) |
Famous for his patience and his ability to swallow anger despite repeated attempts to infuriate him | 745–799 |
| 8 | Imam Ali (علي) |
Abū al-Hassan (أبو الحسن) |
Ibn Mūsā (إبن موسی) |
Ali Ar-Ridā (ألرضا) (pronounced "Reza" by Persian- and Urdu-speakers) |
Made the crown-prince by caliph Ma'mun al-Rashid, allowing him a somewhat unprecedented access to preach to the masses | 765–818 |
| 9 | Imam Muhammad (محمد) |
Abū Jacfar (أبو جعفر) |
Ibn cAlī (إبن علي) |
Al-Jawad (الجواد) Muhammad At-Taqī (التقي) |
Famous for his generosity and piety | 810–835 |
| 10 | Imam Ali (علي) |
Abū al-Hassan (أبو الحسن) |
Ibn Muhammad (إبن محمد) |
Al-Hādī (ألھادي), Ali an-Naqī (ألنقي) |
Assumed the role of the Imam at a very tender age yet repeatedly defeated many great scholars in theological debates | 827–868 |
| 11 | Imam Hassan (ألحسن) | Abū Muhammad (أبو محمد) |
Ibn cAlī (إبن علي) |
Al-cAskarī (ألعسکري) |
The penultimate Imam, lived almost his entire life under house arrest and yet still preached to people | 846–874 |
| 12 | Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (محمد) |
Abū Qāsim (أبو قاسم) |
Ibn al-Hassan (إبن الحسن) |
Al-Mahdī (ألمھدي) |
Current Imam, known to be al-Mahdi, the saviour, believed to be in occultation | 868–Present |
The Twelvers further believe that the 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdī, is believed to be in occultation and it is believed will reveal himself when God orders him to. He is said by the Twelvers to be commanded by God to appear when the world is in great turmoil and all the leaders of the nations try but fail to gain peace and stop the chaos. There are also many other Prophecies regarded Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi that have been fulfilled.
[edit] Ismaili view
- See also: Ismaili
The Ismailis differ from the Twelvers in that, they accept Ismail bin Jafar, elder brother Musa al-Kazim, as the rightful successor-Imam[1] to his father Jafar al-Sadiq. Thus their line of Imams is as follows (note: figures in brackets indicate the years during which they were Imams):
- Ali ibn Abi Talib (632–661)
- Hasan ibn Ali (661-669)
- Husayn ibn Ali (669–680)
- Ali ibn Husayn (Zayn al-Abidin) (680–713)
- Muhammad al-Baqir (713–733)
- Jafar al-Sadiq (733–765)
- Ismail bin Jafar (765–775)
The Ismaili line of Imams continues undivided till Mustansir Billah (d. 1094), after which it divides into the Nizari and Mustali sects.
[edit] Zaidī view
See Zaidi Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic: الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a maðhab (sect, school) named after the Imām Zayd ibn ˤAlī. Followers of the Zaidi fiqh are called Zaidis (or are occasionally called Fivers in the West). However, there is also a group called the Zaidi Wasītīs who are Twelvers.
[edit] Zaidi Imāms
Followers of the Zaidi fiqh recognise the first four Ithnaˤasharī Imams but they accept Zayd ibn Ali as their "Fifth Imām" instead of his half brother Muhammad al-Baqir.
| Ali ibn Abu Talib | 1st Imam |
| Hasan ibn Ali | 2nd Imam |
| Husayn ibn Ali | 3rd Imam |
| Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al Abidin | 4th Imam |
| Zayd ibn Ali ash-Shahid | 5th Imam |
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[edit] References
- ^ Rise of The Fatimids, by W.Ivanow. Page 81, 275
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Shia Network Ahlulbayt Discussion Fourms
- ALShiaTalk Discussion Forums
- Twelve Successors
- History of Ismaili Imams
- Bay Area Shiite-Muslims Association (basma.us)
- Graphical illustration of the Shia sects
- The Shia Islamic Guide (shiacode.com)
- Imamah in Sunni Islam
- Imamah according to Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah
